Water Security Training and Technical Assistance Grant Program

 

The objective of these grant programs are (1) for financial assistance that is awarded under SDWA Section 1433, to improve water infrastructure security through both training and technical assistance for water utilities and (2) for cooperative agreements that are awarded under SDWA Section 1434, to address the risk of intentional contamination of drinking water distribution systems.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2013: For Section 1433 financial assistance, no funding is anticipated for Fiscal Year 2013. If funds become available, EPA's funding priority is to provide assistance to eligible non-profit organizations that provide training, technical support or other assistance to water utilities. Specifically, EPA is seeking to utilize the ability of non-profit organizations to provide water security technical support and training. For Section 1434 cooperative agreements, no funding is anticipated for Fiscal Year 2013. If funds become available, EPA's funding priority is to provide assistance to community water systems for drinking water contamination warning system pilot projects. Financial assistance awarded under both of these programs support Goal 2, Clean and Safe Water, of EPA's Strategic Plan. Specifically, awards will enhance public health protection by securing critical infrastructure through support for counter-terrorism preparedness.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 09/09/2014 (Archived.)
Program Number
66.478
Federal Agency/Office
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Water
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
Cooperative Agreements
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available
Authorization
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, Title 4, Public Law 107-188; Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act of 2002, Public Law 107-117; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1433&1434.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA is available to public non-profit institutions/organizations and private non-profit institutions/organizations, capable of providing training, technical support and/or assistance to drinking water systems. Cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA will be limited to local governments or institutions (either public or private nonprofit organizations) that operate community water systems (as defined in 40 C.F.R. §141.2). Note that 501(c)(4) non-profit organizations that lobby are not eligible. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
Beneficiary Eligibility
For financial assistance awarded under both Sections 1433 and 1434 of the SDWA, the beneficiaries are the drinking water systems, the water programs of the State or Tribe, and the public which will benefit from these programs through safer and more secure drinking water.
Credentials/Documentation
EPA may request that applicants demonstrate their eligibility. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog. Section 1434 cooperative agreements are a new grant program that has not been included in the agency's list of programs subject to Intergovernmental review. However, EPA recommends that applicants for these cooperative agreements should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in its State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This program also does not require an environmental impact statement or assessment. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applicants must submit an "Application for Federal Assistance," SF 424, "Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs," SF 424A, "Assurances: Non-Construction Programs," SF 424B, "Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters," "Certification Regarding Lobbying," "Pre-Award Compliance Review Report," EPA 4700-4, and other required forms to complete the application process. Application kits should be requested from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, Mail Code 3903R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington , DC 20460 or the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Detailed information and assistance, including an application kit, required forms, and a check list, may also be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/index.htm. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. Applications should be submitted in accordance with the procedures stated in the competitive announcement.
Award Procedure
Applications are reviewed by EPA, where subsequent grant awards are made to successful applicants. For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Approximately 30 to 90 days after deadline for application submittal.
Appeals
Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
Any continuation of funding will be described in the terms of the assistance agreement.
How are proposals selected?
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
How may assistance be used?
Funded activities for financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA include: (1) training to gain competence and expertise in the process of developing or completing vulnerability assessments; (2) training to gain competence and expertise in the process of developing, amending, or updating emergency response plans; (3) training to gain competence and expertise in various security enhancements; and (4) providing competent training and technical assistance in the aforementioned areas to help states, tribes, and local authorities in their water infrastructure security efforts. Funded activities for cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA may include: (1) demonstration of contamination and warning system monitoring and surveillance components; (2) contamination warning system consequence management plan; and (3) evaluation and transfer of results. Specific uses and restrictions on funds will be described in detail in the competitive announcements for each program. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations at 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31, as applicable. Program reports are required under this program. Cash reports are required under this program. Progress reports are required under this program. Expenditure reports are required under this program. Performance monitoring is required under this program.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff, or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year.
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained for three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Matching requirements, if any, will be described in the competitive announcement.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The term of the grant shall be determined at the time of grant award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The method of fund disbursement will be determined at the time of award.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the Grants Management Office of the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Nancy Muzzy, EPA, Water Security Division, Mail Code 140, 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 Email: muzzy.nancy@epa.gov Phone: 513-569-7864.
Website Address
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/funding/index.cfm
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304; 68-0107-0-1-304 - For financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA, 68-0107-0-1-304 and 68-0108-0-1-304; S&T and EPM. For cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA, 68-0107-0-1-304; S&T.
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 12 $0; FY 13 est $0; and FY 14 est $0 - For financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA, FY 12 $0; FY 13 est. $0; and FY 14 est. $0. For cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA, FY 12 $0; FY 13 est. $0; and FY 14 est. $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For financial assistance awarded under Section 1433 of the SDWA, no funding was provided in FY 12 and none is anticipated for FY 13. For cooperative agreements awarded under Section 1434 of the SDWA, no funding was provided in FY 12 and none is anticipated for FY 13.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Safe Drinking Water Act, Sections 1433 and 1434; "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations," 40 CFR Part 30, and. "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Governments," 40 CFR Part 31.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2015: No Current Data Available

 


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